By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director 

Saturday, September 7, 2019 – College of the Canyons plays its 2019 season opener as the COC Cougars host Saddleback College at Cougar Stadium in week one. Saturday’s matchup is a non-conference contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Once again, all Cougars home games will be live streamed to fans through a broadcast partnership with SoCalCollegeSports.com. Home games will also be replayed on SCVTV Channel 20 and SCVTV.com.

Canyons comes into the game as the defending Southern California Football Association (SCFA) National Division, Northern League champions after a perfect 10-0 regular season record a season ago. COC qualified for the state playoffs but lost to eventual state finalist Ventura College in the opening round.

Saddleback College finished the 2018 campaign with a 7-4 overall record to finish second in the SCFA National Division, Southern League. The Gauchos ended the year by defeating
Bakersfield College 34-31 in the postseason Patriotic Bowl.

Canyons is currently the No. 4 ranked team in the state according to the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA) Preseason Poll. The Cougars are also ranked No. 6 in the JC Athletic Bureau Head Coaches Poll.

The Gauchos rank No. 12 in both the CCCSIA and JC Athletic Bureau Head Coaches Poll. Saddleback also checks in at No. 6 in the JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 national rankings released on Sept. 2. COC is No. 29 in the Dirty 30 poll.

Canyons and Saddleback last met during the 2018 season, with the Cougars coming away with a 19-6 road victory.

COC leads the all-time series with a slight 5-4 advantage, however, the Gauchos have won three of the last five meetings dating back to 2012.

General admission tickets to all Cougar football games are $10. Kids under 10 and seniors over 60 are $5.

In addition, COC head coach Ted Iacenda and the Cougars have announced a series of special FREE community group invites for each home game.

For Saturday’s game, all Santa Clarita Valley school staff and students are invited to attend free of charge. A full 2019 schedule and invite list is included here.

Cougars fans are also reminded to make their plans to attend the college’s 50th Anniversary Homecoming celebration prior to the week four game vs. Cerritos College on Saturday, Sept. 28. Fans and community members are invited to enjoy pre-game family activities, food and concessions, music, photo opportunities, T-shirt and rally towel giveaways, and a special on-field half-time alumni photo. Festivities begin at 4 p.m., with kickoff scheduled at 6 p.m. Admission and parking are both free for this event.